Paper box machine



Nov. 3, 1942. E; cs. STAUDE PAPER BOX MACHINE Filed Ma'y 19, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet l .b2b @ZLEU NWIKSS Nov. 3, 1942.

E. a. .sTAUDE PAPE; Box MACHINE Filed May l, 1941 .7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 3, 1942.

E. G'. STAUDE '2,300,713

PAPER BOX MACHINE f Filed May 19, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 l TRANSFER UNIT CM, M WM Nov. A3, 1942. E. G. s'rAUDE PAPER Box MACHINE Filed May 19, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 am www PAPER B0X MACHINE 7 sheetsheet .7

Filed May 19, 1941 Patented Nov. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAPER. BOX MACHINE- l Edwin G. Stande, Minneapolis. Minn., assignor to E. G. Stande Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application May 19, 1941, Serial No. 394,087

6 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for making paper boxes land particularly paper boxes which are rst made into long fiat tubes and which tubes are then slitted transversely to provide a plurality of relatively shorter box tubes.

I am aware that machines have been previously built for this purpose, but to the best of my knowledge, in all such machines the transverse slitting is done immediately after the tube blank has been glued, andA before the glue has had suicient time to set. This frequency results in a slight disarrangement of the overlapping glued edge portions of the blank from which the tube is constructed, causing the glued seams of the short tubes subsequently to be formed, toA

be inaccurateand in some instances, the seams of the short tube sections may not be glued at all.

Another disadvantage in cross slitting the relatively long flat tubes before the glue has set, or at least partially set, is that the wet glue has a tendency to accumulate on the slitting rolls and may eventually aiect the operation thereof.

To overcome the diiculties above enumerated. I propose to feed the gluedflat tubes through a pressure unit comprising co-acting conveyer belts between which the flat tubes are fed in overlap1 ping relation and whereby a uniform pressureis applied to a plurality of tubes as they are fed between said belts, the length of said pressure Aunit being such that when the flat tubes are dischargedtherefrom, the glue has set suiciently to prevent the glued seams from opening or be-l coming disarranged when the tubes are substantially fed through the slitting unit.

In the formation of the flat tubes, as herein disclosed, the blanks from which the box is made may be fed through a folding and gluing machine similar to the one shown in my Patent No. 1,104,013 or my Patent No. 2,008,049, wherein the dat, elongated blanks are folded along longitudinally disposed Score lines to provide fiat tubes, glue being applied between the overlapping edges of the blanks to provide a glued seam. After the blanks have passed through the folding and gluing machine, and have been folded into long at collapsed tubes, the glued tubes are immediately fed through a pressure unit in overlapping relation, while the glue is still wet, which pressure unit may be of the typedisclosed in my Patent No. 2,133,727. This unit exerts uniform pressure on the blanks to insure rm adhesive sealing of the glue and prevent opening of the blanks while under such pressure. The pressure unit is of 55 such length that when the elongated, at tubes are discharged therefrom, the glue' has sei'I sufciently to prevent opening of the glue seam.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved apparatus for folding ilat` blanksv into tubes and uniting the opposed longitudinal edges of the blanks by a suitable adhesive, and then delivering the glued at tubes to a pressure unit which acts to hold the glued seams of the blanks in proper position until the glue has set sufliciently to permit the blanks to be fed from the pressure unit to a slitting mechanism, wherein each tube is slitted transversely into a plurality of relatively shorter box tubes, and whereby theseams of the relatively shorter box tubes cannot"pop open, or become unglued, as frequently occurs when, the tubes are cross-slitted before the gluehas set.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a plurality of mechanisms which have been combined to form a machine capable' of performing the various steps of the invention in a highly efficient and practical manner and whereby the operation of lmaking shorter box tubes may be greatly expedited.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims. i

In the accompanying drawings 'there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the inventionis not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a. plan view of a tube slitting unit shown positioned to receive glued at tubes from 2-2Vof Figure l, showing the means for transferring the relatively shorter box tubes from the slitting unit to a suitable receiving conveyer;

Figure 3 is a, longitudinal sectional View onthe line 3 3 of Figure 1, showing the means for feeding the flat tubes from the'pressur'e unit, one at a. time, onto a transverse conveyer which delivers the tubes to the slitting unit; s

Figure 4 is a. cross-sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 3, with some of the parts omitted; Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pressure unit, with some of the parts omitted;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the feed wheel at the discharge end of the pressure unit and the means for accurately positioning the long, flat tubes on the transverse conveyer;

Figure '1 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing a mechanism'for transferring the shorter box tubes from the slitting unit onto a slow moving receiving belt or. conveyer, in overlapping relation;

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail view, partially in section, showing a plurality of pairs of cooperating slitting rolls;

Figure 9 is a view showing one end of a creased blankfrom which a'tu'be of considerable length is formed;

Figure 10 is a view showing a creased blank folded longitudinally and its overlapped edges glued together to form a tube;

Figure 11 is a view showing a tube transversely slitted to provide a plurality of relatively shorter box tubes;

Figure 12 is a perspective view showing one of the shorter box tubes extended to form a small rectangular box with open ends; and

Figure 13 is a perspective View showing an elongated tube collapsed, as when fed through the pressure unit.

The present invention, as hereinbefore stated, is directed primarily to the manufacture of collapsible box tubes adapted for use in packaging various articles. To expedite the manufacture of such tubes, a plurality of short tubes 2, as shown in Figure 12, are cut from a relatively longer tube 3, shown in Figures 10 and 11, by transversely slitting the longer tube, as indicated at I in Figure l1. The longer tubes 3 are made from preformed elongated blanks, which are longitudinally scored, as indicated at 5, 6, 1, and 3, in Figure 9, after which one or more of the marginal side edge portions of the blank may have a suitable glue applied thereto, as indicated at 9 in Figure 10. The blank is then longitudinally folded along the score lines 5, 6, 1, and 8, and the glued marginal edges thereof overlapped to provide a seam I0, shown in Figures l0, 1l, and 12. Each elongated tube 3 thus formed, is open at both ends, whereby it may readily be collapsed so that its walls are disposed in flatwise relation, as clearly illustrated in Figure 13. To complete the formation of the finished box tubes 2, each relatively longer tube 3 is transversely slitted or severed, as shown in Figure 1l, whereby a plurality of relatively shorter box tubes 2 areformed from each elongated tube 3, as will subsequently be described. n

The formation of the tube 3, as above described, may be accomplished in box making and gluing machines of the general type disclosed in my above mentioned Patent No. 1,104,013 or No. 2,008,049, and Vtherefore the mechanisms for forming the relatively longer tubes 3 need not be described in detail in the present application.

In machines now commonly used for transversely slitting long tubes into a plurality of relatively shorter box tubes, the slitting of the long tubes is usually performed before the glue seam has had an opportunity to dry suiliciently to prevent displacement of the marginal edges of the blank which constitute the glued seam. As a result, the finished box tubes are not always uniform, because the glue coated marginal edges of the blank frequently become displaced while the long box tubes are being transferred from the gluing and folding machine II, to the slitting mechanism, or the seam may become displaced during the slitting operation.

An important feature of the invention resides in the manner of conveying or transferring the freshly glued tubes 3 from the folding and gluing mechanisms, partially shown at II in Figure 5, to the' slitting mechanism, subsequently to be described.

In the present invention, the above mentioned difculty has been completely eliminated by the. provision of means for temporarily holding the freshly glued elongated tubes under pressure, during a portion of the time they are traveling from the gluing and folding mechanism I to the slitting mechanism, whereby when the flat tubes subsequently reach the slitting mechanism, the

' glued edge portions of the tube cannot become displaced.

A means for thus applying pressure to the freshly glued elongated tubes is shown in Figure 5, and consists of a pressure unit, generally designated by the numeral I2. This unit may be similar to the apparatus shown and described in my Patent No. 2,133,727, and therefore need not be shown and described in detail herein.

As best shown in Figure 5, the pressure unit I2 is arranged to receive the elongated box tubes from the folding and gluing machine II, and comprises an endless belt I3 trained about a series of idler rollers or pulleys Il, I5, I6, I1, I3, a drive pulley or drum I9, idler roller 20, and a belt tightener roller 2|, all mounted in a suitable supporting frame 22 whichmay be carried by suitable cross frame members or standards 23 and 2l. The drive pulley or drum I9 is shown driven by a worm gear drive 23' from one end of a suitable drive shaft 24' disposed lengthwise of the machine, and mounted in suitable bearings, not shown. The opposite end 25 of the shaft 24' is operatively connected to the driving mechanism of the blank gluing and folding machine by suitable means,- not shown. The belt I3 travels at a relatively slower speed than the conveyer belts 25 and 21 of the folding and gluing machine,1and has an inclined portion 28 posihoned to be engaged bythe heading ends of they tubes 3, as they are fed from the gluing and folding machine. The upper portion28 of the conveyer belt I3 of the pressure unit is preferably disposed at an elevation above the path of travel of the tubes in the folding and gluing machine.

By thus arranging the upper run 23 of the belt I3, the leading end of each tube will impinge 4against the inclined belt portion 28, as the tubes are successively fed from the gluing and foldingmachine by the conveyer belts 26 and 21 thereof. Because of the pressure unit belt I3 operating at a relatively slower speed than the belts 26 and 21, the tubes are caused to overlap on the belt I3, in a lengthwise direction, into a continuously moving stack of tubes, as clearly illustrated in Figure 5. I.

The pressure unit I2 has a complemental endless belt 3| disposed directly over the path of travel of the stack of tubes on the belt I3. The belt 3| is supported on a drive pulley 32 and an idler pulley 33. A belt tightener pulley 34 is shown provided for tensioning the belt. The lower run of the belt 3| is arranged to engage the upper surfaces of the tubes on the belt I3,

and is held firmly thereagainst by weighted rollers 35 supported between suitable links 36, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 5. Additional weighted rollers 31 engage th'e top of the stack of tubes at the tail end of the pressure belt 3|.

The belt 3| is driven from the shaft 24 through l pivotally supported at one end on the shaft 48,

and whereby the lower run of the pressure belt 3| rides freely on the top of the stack of tubes.

as will be readily understood by reference to Figure 5.l

By reference to Figure 5, it will be noted that a portion of the upper run of the conveyer belt I3 is supported on suitable supporting plates 43 and 44, and spaced side plates-45. are provided at the receiving end of thepressure unit I2 for guiding the tubes between the belts I3 and 3|. Similar guides or side walls 45 are provided at the discharge end of the pressure unit I2, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. i

A feed wheel 41 is provided at the discharge end of the pressure unit I2 and is secured to a suitable shaft 48 mounted in bearings 43 provided in the side portions of an upright frame member 48', shown secured tothe cross member of the pressure unit frame by suitable spacing brackets 43', as shown in Figure 3. The feed wheel has a gripping surface 5I adapted to coact with theperiphery of a relatively smaller feed wheel 52 to grip the leading end of each tube and feed it from the pressure unit, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 6. The

smaller feed wheel 52 is secured to a shaft 53 mounted in suitable bearings provided in the side frame members, as shown in Figure 4'.

A suitable friction element or block 54 is provided immediately in front of the feed wheels 41 and 52, and is secured to a hinged member 53 interposed between the feed wheels and a bottom guide plate 50'. The friction element 54 operates to retard'the next following tube and allows but one tube to be fed from the pressure unit at a time. The friction element'54 is provided with an adjusting device, generally desig- A3 mechanism, generally designated `by thehumerals 51 and 58, respectively, are shown comprising a single supporting frame whereby the mechanism may be assembled as a unitary structure', independently of the pressure unit and gluing and folding machine.

As best shown in Figures 2, 3. and 4, the supporting frame of the right angle transfer unit and slitting mechanism comprises the frame member 48' and a frame member 1I secured to the member 48' by suitable tie members 12, cooperating therewith to provide a rigid frameV y which, as shown in Figure 3, is attached to the end frame member 23 of the pressure unit` I 2A by the spacing brackets 43. The power shaft 55, as hereinbefore stated, is carried by the frame of the pressure unit I2, and the cross shaft 51 by the upright frame member 43. of the right angle transfer unit. The lcross shaft 51, however,

is so arranged with respect to the power shaft 55 that wh'en the frame member 48' is coupled to the end frame member 23 of the pressure unit by the brackets 43', the shafts ,55 and 51 will be operatirely -connected together by the bevel gear drive The transfer unit 51 is shown comprising a I relatively wide belt 13 substantially alined with the belt I3 of the pressure unit I2.` The upper run 14 of the belt 13 is horizontally supported on idler rollers 15 and 15, in position to receive the elongated tubes from the feed wheels 41 and 52. 'I'he belt I3 h'as running connections with. idler rollers 11 and 18, and a belt tightening roller or pulley 13, mounted on an adjustable bracket ,8L The belt also has a running connection with a drive pulleyor drum 82 secured to a cross shaft 83 driven by a chain drive 84 from the shaft 53, as indicated in Figures 3 andf`6.

The idler roller 15 is rotatably mounted in suit` able bearings provided in complementa] brackets 83 and 88' and the roller 15 is shown journaled in brackets 85 and 85'. The brackets 80 and 80' are secured together in spaced relation by a cross nated by the numeral 55, whereby said element may be accurately adjusted with respect to the periphery of the feed wheel 41, to positively limit the feeding of the tubes from the pressure unit to the transfer unit, one at a time.

The shaft 53 of the lower feed wheel 52 is driven from a cross shaft 51 by a pair of gears 58 and 53,the cross shaft 51 having a driving connection with a power shaft 55. by a bevel gear drive 5I, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3 and full lines in Figure 4. The power shaft extends lengthwise of the pressure unit I2 and is operatively connected to the driving by suitable means, not shown. The shaft 48 of the upper feed wheel 41 is driven by a pair of gears 52 and 53, the pitch diameters of which are such that their point of contact is located substantially in the path of travel ofthe blanks, where the blanks enter between the feed wheels 41 and 52. To prevent accumulation of foreign matter on the periphery of the feed wheel 41, a suitable brush 54 is shown mounted ona cross shaft 55, directly above .the feed wheel 41, and is adapted to engage the periphery of the feed wheel, as shown in Figure 3. The brushmay be driven by a belt drive 55 from the shaft 48 of the feed wheel 41, as sh'own in Figure 4. I

The right angle transfer unit and slitting rod 85, and the brackets 85 and 35' are similarly secured together by a' rod 85. The brackets 80 and 83' are adjustable lengthwise of the belt by threaded shafts 81, each having one end rotatably supported in the frame member 48', as indicated at 88 in Figure 3. The opposite ends of said shafts are rotatably supportedin the end frame member 1 I. The shafts 81 are-operatively connected together for simultaneous rotation by a chain drive 83, best shown in Figure 1. One of the shafts 81 is shown having a squared end portion 3|, whereby a suitable crank or other operating member may be connected thereto for rotating the shafts. Rotation of the shafts 81 will longitudinally adjust the brackets 85 and 85' thereon. 1

The brackets 85 and 85' which support the idler roller 15, are adjustable towards and away from the brackets 80 and 80', by threaded shafts 34, each' having one end rotatably supported in the frame member 48',"'as shown at 95 in Figure 1.

The opposite ends of said threaded shafts are rotatably supported in the frame member 1I. A

chain drive 35 connects together the shafts 34 forsimultaneous rotation. One of the shafts34 is 99 directly over the tubes. allllacentto the feed wheels 41 and 52. Av rotary brush |0| is also mounted over the belt run 14 and is adapted t0 engage each blank and feed it forwardly against a suitable stop bar |02, shown provided with a horizontally disposed guide plate |03 adapted to guide the forward end of the tube into engagefil ment with the stop bar |02, as clearly illustrated stantially equal to the speed of travel of the tubes delivered thereto by the feed wheels 41 and 52, and the function of the cam element 90 is to deflect the trailing end of each tube downwardly into the path of the next following tube and onto the belt run 14, into position to be engaged by themeans for laterally feeding the blanks from their normal path of travel into the slitting mechanism 58.

The means provided for laterally feeding the blanks from the upper run 14 into the slitting mechanism 68, is shown comprising a pair of spaced parallel endless chains |l01 and |00 disposed at right angles to the belt 13. The upper run of the chain |00 is located in close proximity to the roller and travels in a suitable channel or guide |09 provided in the brackets 80 and 00. The chain |01 travels in a similar guide |09 provided in the brackets 05 and 05', as shown in Figures 3 and 6. From the foregoing, it will thus be noted that the effective length of the belt run 14 may be varied to suit box tubes of different lengths by the simple manipulation of the adjusting shafts 81 and 94. Each chain |01 or |08 is Vmounted on idler sprockets ||2, ||3, and ||4, and a drive sprocket II5. The drive sprockets ||5 are splined to a shaft H6, whereby they are adapted for free sliding movement thereon. The shaft I5 is supported in suitable bearings in the frame members 48 and 1|. The chains |01 and |08 have spaced lugs I|1 thereon which extend upwardly above the surface of the belt run 14, whereby said lugs may engage one edge of each tube supported on the belt run 14 and thereby lat erally feed the tubes from beneath the rotating brush |0| into the slitting mechanism 90. The tubes are held in position on the belt run 14 and chains |01 and |08 by the guide or shield |03 and a pair of suitable hold down bars IIO, shown in Figure l.

The idler sprockets II2 of the chains |01 and |08 are mounted on studs secured to one end of arcuately formed arms I9, pivoted at |2| to the brackets 80' and 05. The arms ||9 are adjustably secured to their respective brackets by adjusting screws |22 received in slots |23 provided -in the brackets 80' and 85', as best shown in Figure 2. By relatively adjusting the arms ||9 upon their respective brackets, the sprockets ||2 may be adjusted to properly position the upper runs of the chains |01 and |00 with respect to ,the slitting mechanism.

The lower idler sprockets |I4 are mounted on studs secured to depending arms |24 of the brackets v00 and 05. To axially move the drive sprockets III on the shaft IIO, when the chains are laterally adjusted by manipulation of the shafts 01 and 04, the brackets 00' and 05' are provided with arms |25 having their lower terminals engaging annular grooves in the sprockets II5, whereby lateral adjustment of the brackets 00' and 05' will similarly adjust the drive sprockets ||5 upon the shafts 4| I0, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 2.

The slitting mechanism 00, next to be described, is shown comprising a plurality of upper and lower complemental wheels |20 and |21 mounted on shafts |20 and |29, respectively, journaled in suitable bearings provided in the side frame members 40 and 1|. Cutting disks |3| are detachably secured to the upper wheels |20 and cooperate with complemental disks |32 secured to the lower wheels |21 to transversely sever the long box tubes fed to the wheels |20 and |21. 'I'he wheels |20 and |21 are adjustable longitudinally von the shafts |20 and |29 to vary 'the length of the relatively short box tubes cut from the long tubes.

The upper shaft |20 is vertically adjustable with respect to the lower shaft |29 by suitable means, not shown, to vary the gap /or space between the peripheries of the wheels I 25 and |21 in accordance with the thickness of the tube blanks being fed therebetween, as will be understood by reference to Figure T. The shafts |20 and |29 are geared together for simultaneous operation by suitable gears |j33 and |34, as shown in Figure 4. The wheels |25 and |21 are driven from the cross shaft 51 through a pair of bevel gears |35 and |35, the pinion |35 being secured to the shaft 51 adjacent to a bearing bracket |31 which sup'- ports one end of the shaft 51. The bevel gear |36 is mounted on a stub shaft |38 rotatably mounted in a bracket |39 secured to the frame member 48', as clearly illustrated in Figure 4.

A pinion |4| is secured to the inner end of the stub shaft |38 and meshes with the lower spur gear |34, whereby 'when the shaft 51 is rotated,

the gears |33 and |34 will be rotated in opposite directions to drive the shafts |28 and |29.

The severed box,tubes are fed from the slitting rolls |25 and |21 betweenthe adjacent runs |42 and |43 of a plurality of spaced endless belts |44 and |45, which belts operate to feed the severed box tubes onto a slow moving delivery belt |46, mounted on rollers |41 and |48, secured to shafts |41' and |40', respectively, journaled in brackets |50, secured to the frame 'members 48,and 1 I, as best shown in Figure 2. 'I'he belts |44 and |45 of each pair of suchbelts are preferably disposed in a common vertical plane, and the belts |44 are alternately arranged with the upper cutting wheels |25. and the belts |45 are similarly arranged with the lower cutter-supporting wheels |21, as will be clearly understood by reference to Figure l. In other words, one pair of belts |44 and |45'is preferably provided for each short box tube severed from the long tubes delivered to the slitting Wheels |25 and |21.

Each belt |44 is mounted on -a drive pulley |40, and anti-friction pulleys |49, |5|, and |52, the latter being adjustably supported in a slot' |53 provided in a carrier |54, adjustably secured to a cross member |55 by bolts |53'. 'I'he cross member |55 is suitablysecured to the side frame members 40 and 1|, as will be understood by reference to Figure l. The idler pulleys |49 and Ill are supported on adjustable arms |50 and I 51, respectively, mounted for pivotal adjustment on the carrier |54, as clearly illustrated in Figure 7. Adjustment of the arms |56 and |51 will vary the gap between the belt runs |42 and |43 of each pair of belts |44 and |45. Each lower belt |45 is supported in a similar manner on a drive sheave or pulley |58 and anti-friction idler pulleys |59, 6|, and a belt tightener pulley |62 adustably mounted in a slot |63 provided in a lower carrier |64. Pulleys |65 are provided on each lower carrier |64 for supporting the inter# mediate portionsofthe belt runs |43 of the belts |45. The small diameter of the anti-friction pulleys |49 and |59 allows the belts |44 and |45 to extend into the spaces between the cutting wheels |26 and |21 mounted on the shafts |28 and |29, respectively, as clearly illustrated in Figure 7. The belt runs |42 and |43 cooperate to rmly grip the. severed box tubes and convey them to the delivery conveyer |46.

'I'he lower carriers |64 are adjustably mounted on spaced parallel cross bars |66 secured to the machine frame, as will be clearly understood. The drive pulleys |48 and |58 are mounted on upper and lower shafts |61 and |68, journaled in bearings in the side frame members 48' and 1|. The upper shaft |61 is driven fromthe gear |33 secured tothe cutter shaft |28, through'an intermediate gear l69, and the lower shaft |68 is driven The pulleys |48 on said shafts in accordance with the length of the relatively shorter box tubes to be cut from the long tubes being delivered to the cutting wheels |26 and |21 from the transfer unit 68. The severed box tubes 2 are delivered to the delivery conveyer |46 from the belts |42 and |43 and are directed downwardly into closely packed overlapped relation thereon by a small roller |14. A triangularly shaped cross bar |15, arranged below the roller |14, cooperates with the roller |14 to properly position the short box tubes on the conveyer belt |46, as shown in Figure "1. The roller |14 is supported by suitable arms |16 `which may be adjustably secured to the cross bar |155,

as shown in Figure 2. A relatively larger 'roller' |11 is mounted adjacent to the roller |14 and cooperates therewith to guide or feed the short tubes 2' into uniform overlapping relation on vthe delivery belt |46.

The roller |11 is vadjustably supported bya pair of arms |18 pivotally mounted on brackets |19 which, in tum, are mounted in vthreaded engagement with a pair of threaded rods or shafts |8| mounted for rotation in suitable bearings provided in the brackets |50, as be understood by reference to Figures 2 and 4. Thel outer ends of the threaded shafts 8| are operatively connected together by a chain drive |82, whereby said :shafts are adapted for simultaneous rotation, thereby to effect longitudinal adjustment of `the upright brackets |19 thereon, and whereby the location of the roller |11with respect to the roller |14 may be f varied. The roller |11 is :also vertically adjustable by means of adjusting screws |83, one such screw being received in threaded engagementv with each arm |18 and having their lower Aends engaging fixed portions of the brackets |50. The

is shown comprising a chain |86 having a running connection with a sprocket |81 suitably one end of the arm |94 and to a cross `member ory bar |96 provided at the outer ends of the brackets |50. The spring |95- constantly urges the :arm |92 in a direction to maintain the chain |96 taut,

' regardless of the positionv of the roller |11 with respect to the relatively smaller roller |14.

.A suitable supporting plate l 91 is provided bef neath vthe upper run of the delivery 4belt |46 to provide a support therefor. From the delivery conveyer |46, the completed box tubes vare `delivered onto a suitable receiving table |98 in rows yof overlapping tubes from `which table the completed tubes may be removed by an attendant.

The delivery conveyer |46 is driven from the shaft |68 by means of a suitablevspeed reducer, generally designated by the numeral |199, mounted on the shaft |41 :and having a ring gear 210| meshing with `a pinion 202 secured to the shaft |68., as will be understood by reference to Figures 1 and 2.

As the ycombined -gluing and folding machine and the pressure unit l2 may sometimes be lused without the .slitting unit '68, the combined transfer and slitting units are supported on a lsingle supporting iframe, lhereinbefore described, `which is detachably connected to 'the end frame member 23 of `the pressure unit by the vbrackets 49", shown :in Figure T3. 'To facilitate :moving lthe -combined transfer :and slitting lunit about, when `detached from the pressure unit, `the frame of lthe slitting unit is :shown provided with ysuitable caster wheels 1203, swiveled `to the lower vhorizontal portions of lsuitable angle plates or brackets `284, vertically `slidable on 4the frame members 1.2 of the slitting unit, as indicated at 205 in Figure 3. shouldered :shafts 1206 :are rotatably mounted in bearings provided :in the framemem'bers 1.2 and have .lower threaded end portions i201 1received in threaded hubs v2 08 provided 'in the horizontal portions :of the brackets i204. Each shaft 206 is shown having an annular :collar or shoul- .der 209 adapted to take the upward thrustsof the shafts 206, when the slitting is-:carr'ied on lthe caster wheels 203. Bevel pinions .210 .are secured to the upper `'endsyof the shafts120'6 and :mesh with pinions 2|.| secured to :shafts l221,2 mounted in bearings provided the end brackets 48' .and 1|.. One end of each shaft '2'l2 projects beyond the frame member "1|, `as shown at 21123 in :Figure i3, whereby a suitable operating crank may vbe :applied thereto for :rotating theshafts to vertically adjust the caster Vwheels .203 with respect to vthe machine lframe and thereby transfer the load from the feed 2|'4 of the :machine iframe onto vthe caster wheels .203, or vice versa, as will readily be understood 'by :reference lto Figure .3. .If desired,- :a separate shaft '21|2 may lbe provided for each pair lci? caster wheels 203 provided at each side of the machine, or, if Idesired, :said shafts may be connected together by ansuitable chain, not shown, for simultaneous operation, in a manner similar to adjusting v shafts Il.

t through the machine, except for the slight intermittent interruption at the transfer unit where the chains Ill and i laterally feed the long tubes from their normal path of travel to the Aslitting mechanism.

' An important feature of the invention, as here- A inbefore stated. resides in the provision of the pressure unit I2 between the gluing and folding machine and the slitting unit, which receives the freshly glued elongated tubes from the blank folding and gluing machine and conveys them under pressure to 'thetransfer unit, whereby freshly glued overlapping edge portions of said blanks are held in adhesive relation sufficiently long to permit the glue to set or dry to the extent ,that the glued seams of thebox tubes cannot become disarranged or open up, when the blanks are fed from their normal path of travel by the transfer unit into the slitting mechanism. In other words, the travel of the freshly .glued tubes from the gluing and folding machine to the cutting mechanism is so timed that when the tubes reach the cutting or slitting mechanism 68, the glue is suiiiciently dry to permit the elongated tubes to be transversely cut into a plurality of ing suitable glue applying mechanism, folding mechanism, and means for delivering the glued and folded tubes onto a slow moving-pressure conveyer in lapped relation, means for feeding the topmost tubes, one at; a time, from the presrelatively shorter boxtubes. without danger of t distorting the glued seams of said tubes. It will also be noted by reference to Figures l, 2, and '1, that the relatively shorter box tubes 2 are delivered onto the delivery conveyor or belt l in stacked relation, and in closely arranged parallel rows of stacks, as partially shown in Figure 1, whereby the finished box tubes may readily be removed from the receiving table |98 by an attendant and bound into bundles or otherwise disposed of.

It will be apparent to those skilledin the art that I have accomplished at least the principal objects of my invention, and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence, it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not l limited thereto.

I claim as my invention: l. In a paper box machine adapted to automatically feed in timed relation, a series of blanks to be glued and folded into tubes, including suitable glue applying mechanism, folding mechanism, and means for delivering the glued and folded tubes onto a slow moving pressure conveyer in lapped relation, means for feeding the foremost tubes, one at s. time, from the pressure conveyer, as the tubes successively emerge therefrom, a right angle transfer section adapted to receive said tubes from the pressure conveyer and advance them at right angles to the direction of initial travel of the tubes,`means for positioning the tubes on the transfer section, slitting means positioned to receive said tubes from the transfer sure conveyer, as the tubes successively emerge therefrom, a right angle transfer section adapted to receive said tubes from the pressure cone 'veyer and advance them at right angles to the direction of initial travel of the tubes, meansfor positioning the tubes on the transfer section, slitting means positioned to receive said tubes from the transfer lsection and transversely sever each tube into a plurality of relatively shorter box tubes, and means for delivering the shorter box tubes `onto a slow 'moving conveyer in overlapped relation. v

3. In a paper box makingV machine, means for advancing preformed blanks along a Apredetermined path-in timed relation, glue applying mechanism, meansfor folding leach blank into an elongated fiat tube, a pressure conveyer into which the at tubes are delivered inendwise direction from saidadvancing'means, said pressure conveyer holding the glued wall portions of the tube in bonding engagement until the glue has set, means for feeding the foremost tubes, one at a time, from the pressure conveyer, as the tubes successively emerge therefrom, a right angle ytransfer section adapted to receive said elongated tubes from the pressure conveyer and laterally move them out of the initial path of travel of the tubes, means for accurately pomtioning the elongated tubes on the transfer section, a slitting mechanism positioned to receive said tubes from the transfer section and transversely sever each tube into a plurality of relatively shorter box tubes, and means for delivering the shorter box tubes onto a. suitable receiving means.

4. In a paper box making machine means for feeding preformed blanks in timed relation, glue applying mechanism, means for folding each blank into an elongatedj fiat tube, means for delivering the flat tubes in endwise direction, to a pressure conveyer, said pressure conveyer operating at a relatively slower speed than the tubes are fed thereto, whereby the fiat tubes are delivered thereto, in lapped relation, means for feeding the tubes, one at a time, from the pressure conveyer, a right angle transfer section adapted to receive said tubes from the pressure conveyer and laterally movethem out of the initial path of travel of the tubes, means for accurately positioningthe elongated flat tubes on the transfer section, a slitting mechanism positioned to receive said tubes from the transfer section and -means for receiving the freshly glued nat tubes in underlapped relation and applying pressure thereto' to retain the glued wall portions thereof in adhesive relation, until the Aglue has sufilciently set to prevent the glued seams of the tube f-rom subsequently opening, means for successively feeding the tubes from the pressure applying means in timed relation to the delivery of blanks to the machine, a slitting mechanism disposed out of the initial path of travel of the tubes, means for receiving the elongated tubes from said feeding means and laterally delivering them into the slitting mechanism, whereby each elongated tube is transversely severed into a plurality ofrelatvely shorter box tubes, and means for delivering the relatively shorter box tubes onto a suitable receiving means in overlapped relation.

6. ln combination with a machine for making paper box tubes comprising blank feeding, fold-7 ing, land gluing mechanisms, a pressure unit mounted in receive the vglued tubes in lapped relation from the folding and gluing mechanisms and applying pressure to the flat tubes to hold the glued wall portions thereof in adhesive rela- ,relatively shorter box tubes, and means for delivering said shorter box tubes onto the receiving conveyer in overlapped relation.

EDWIN G. STAUDE. 

